Folding chair



F. C. MASON FOLDING 1 CHAIR June 11, 1929.

Filed April 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l a ihww i. 1

June 11, 1929.v F. c. MASON 1,716,526

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 4, 1927 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fria s/27%:

Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED sraras FRANGIS c. MASON, or STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed April 4,

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as chairs and relates more particularly to a folding chair which may be very compactly folded but which, when opened and set up for use, is particularly comfortable. The invention has among its objects the production of a chair of the kind described'which is simple, durable, compact, comfortable and satisfactory for use where ever found applicable. The invention has as a particular object the production of a chair which is provided with a yieldable adjustable back mounted on a frame in such manner that it will adjust itself to the chair user and comfortably support his back. It has as a further object the production of a chair frame so designed as to safely carry a considerable load without danger of collapsing but which may be folded to occupy'a minimum of space for storage or during shipping.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of my improved chair;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the chair;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the chair folded;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation on the back and securing and supporting means therefor;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, there is provided a rearframe consisting of the two uprights 11 connected by the cross-bar 2 of suitable form arranged near the bottom and a strap 3 arranged at the to or adjacent thereto. There is also provi ed what may be termed a' front frame consisting of the two leg portions 4.4, each 1927. Serial No. 180,809.

pivotally secured to the rear frame uprights 11 as indicated at 55, the lower ends being preferably. connected by a crossbar 6 of suitable form. I

The strap or connecting member 3 is secured to the uprights 11 by rivets 7 or equivalent fastening means. This connectlng member 3 may be termed a torsionally elastic supporting strap as its function is not only to connect the uprights adjacent the upper ends but to yieldingly support the back 8, the strap being secured to the rear side 9 as most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

As illustrated, the back 8 consists of a back portion 9 preferably of Wood, metal or equivalent material, secured to the strap 3 by rivets 10 or'equivalent means for the purpose. The front of the back may be provided with a padding 11 enclosed within a cover 12 suitably secured to the portion 9 by upholsterers tacks or nails. As most clearly shown in Fig. 7 I generally prefer to curve the back so that it will fit and more or less conform to the back of the person occupying the chair, and it also spaces the edges of the back from the ends 8 of the strap, which otherwise conforms to the back portion. It will thus be seen that the back 8, is securely attached to the uprights 7 by means of the strap 3 which is rigidly attached to the uprights and to the back so that the back is yieldably supported. The torsionally'elastic strap, although opposing adjustment of the back, nevertheless permits said adjustment, permitting it to substantially rock about the strap as an axisor to adjust itself at the ends. When the occupant of the chair arises, however, the back returns to its normal position.

The chair is also provided with a seat 15 which, 'in the embodiment shown, consists of a bottom member 16 padded as indicated at 17, and provided with a cover 18 suitably secured thereto. Each of the uprights 1 is provided with a slot 20 therein arranged to receive the pins 19 at either side which carry the bracket members 21. While the brackets 1 of the seat itself, the advantage of this being hereinafter referred to. Extending between the legs 14 of the front frame, is a rod 25 F front and back frames, together.

which is secured to the legs 4 by brackets 26 or their equivalent. The seat is pivotally secured to the rod by the brackets 27 or the equivalent.

When the chair is open ready for use, the same appears substantially as shown in Fig. 1 so that a person occupying the same is carried by the seat which is supported on the rod 25, the rear end of the seat being prevented from raising by the engagement of the pins 19 with the upper ends of the slots 20, and the weight of the occupant being on the front and rear frame, the rear frame is, of course, prevented from being lifted. The seat so suspended may be constructed so that it has considerable spring action and as a result is exceedingly comfortable. The occupant seated on the seat 15 may lean rearwardly against the back 8 which will conform to the body regardless of whether the occupant is sitting well to the rear or slightly forward on the seat.

To fold the chair, it is only necessary to take hold of the back and lift up on the front edge of the seat. This moves the pins 19 toward-the bottom of the slot 20 (see Fig. 5), at the same time drawing the two legs,

The arrangement is such and the parts so proportioned that the legs 1 will swing above the round or connecting member 6 so that the two frames lie substantially in the same plane, the seat owing tothe style of brackets being parallel with the frame sides. It will be noted that when the chair is folded, all of the parts are substantially in the same plane and occupying a very limited space. It is preferred to form the bottom edge of the back substantially as indicated at 28 so that when the seat is folded up, it will not engage the back at the lower edge but clear the same.

F rom the preceding, it will be apparent that I have constructed a very substantial occupy a minimum of space, and which is particularly comfortable to the occupant.

It is obvious that the frame, back and seat, may be made of wood, metal or any material suitable for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modificatlons may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding chair, a frame, having side members, a, torsionally elastic supporting strap extending horizontally between and secured to the side members at their tops and a back mounted thereon and supported thereby.

2. In a folding chair, a rear frame having spaced uprights, a front frame having spaced legs and pivotally secured at their upper ends to the rear frame adjacent the top thereof, a torsionally elastic back supporting strap extending horizontally between the upper ends of said rear frame uprights and secured thereto, and a back arranged between said uprights and secured to said strap, a seat pivotally and slidably secured to the rear frame and pivotally supported at a point between the front and back edges thereof on the spaced legs of the front frame.

3. In a folding chair, a frame including spaced uprights, and a seat carried thereby, a back member curved intermediate its ends and of a width to extend proximate the said uprights, a torsionally elastic strap, said strap extending horizontally between and secured at its ends to the top of said uprights, said strap following the contour of the said back between points intermediate the ends. of the back but spaced therefrom adjacent the side edges of the back, said back rigidly secured to said strap.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANCIS C. MASON. 

